Outgoing Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch has comforted his co-host Natalie Barr as she cried uncontrollably as she farewelled him on his final day on the news desk.
Kochie, 67, walked through a guard of honour comprised of crew members, producers and fellow presenters at the Channel Seven set before delivering the news beside Barr for the final time on Friday morning.
Barr struggled to fight back tears as she farewelled one of her ‘best friends’ with a heartfelt tribute, telling her co-host he had taught her so much.
‘I’ve been at Channel Seven for 28 years and for 20 of those I’ve sat at the same desk as you, at the Sunrise desk,’ she said, while immediately breaking down into tears.
She continued: ‘In a world that tells us everyday how to act and what to say, you have shown Australia that what is important is being yourself.
‘No other 6’4 bald guy would go on national TV and make bets over a bottle of red wine with the national treasurer that he has got his figures wrong.
Outgoing Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch has comforted his co-host Natalie Barr as she cried uncontrollably as she farewelled him on his final day on the news desk
The pair were visibly emotional as Barr fought back tears as she farewelled her co-host of 21 years, prompting Kochie to reassuringly reach for her hand
Barr praised Kochie for his ability to listen, and cut through the ‘PR and bull’ during interviews
‘Or walk into the studio, knot their tie around their head as a bandana and sing their heart out to In Excess and honestly believe they can carry a note.
‘It sounds easy. But I believe the hardest thing to do in this job is to listen. You do that for every guest every single day because you care, you care about people, you are interested in their lives, the guests and everyone who works around you.
‘You have shown us all that a workplace, even a TV show, can have a heart and a soul.
‘It is an incredible legacy and a proud foundation for the future of Sunrise. People ask me everywhere I go every single day, what is Kochie really like?
‘He is emotional, more than you would think. He shows us that in the end, family is all that matters because he lives for his and Port Adelaide.
‘But also that it is important to take pride in what you do, whatever that is, he is a leader who is so proud of this show that started off so very small and grew so big.
‘But at its centre still maintains its heart. For the last 20 years I have sat at that desk with him and watched as he gets to the core of an interview and cuts through all the PR and all the bull and I have learned so much.
‘We have traveled across Australia and around the world and through thousands and thousands of hours of live television. We have laughed and we have laughed and we have laughed and we have cried quite a few times too.
‘What’s he really like? He is one of the best friends I will ever have in my life and I will treasure the years we have had on air and I know there will be many more years together. They will just look a little bit different. Congratulations.’
Kochie pulled his teary co-host into a tight embrace as his visibly emotional wife Libby and fellow presenters, applauded the heartfelt farewell.
Kochie pulled his teary co-host into a tight embrace as his visibly emotional wife Libby and fellow presenters, applauded the heartfelt farewell
‘You have shown us all that a workplace, even a TV show, can have a heart and a soul’ Barr told her co-host of over 20 years during an emotional tribute on his last day at Sunrise
Barr and presenter Edwina Bartholomew are seen moving a box of tissues around the studio
Barr wipes at her nose after breaking down in tears as she farewelled her co-host of 20 years
Earlier, Kochie also shared an embrace with Dave Walters – known as Dougie – who he has worked alongside for his entire stint on Sunrise.
‘He has been in my ear for my entire 21 years – you don’t understand the supportive team that we have here on Sunrise,’ he told viewers.
Yep,’ Barr said, as she fought back tears, before telling him: ‘You speak.’
‘It makes us get through it,’ Kochie added. ‘They’re the true heroes of this show.’
He was also embraced by newsreader Edwina Bartholomew and sports presenter Mark Beretta, as he arrived at the news desk for the final time.
Samantha Armytage also returned to the Sunrise set for the first time since walking away from the top-rating breakfast show in 2021.
Armytage sat on the couch she had owned for several years during her own reign as co-host of the show to farewell the departing host.
During the interview, Armytage referenced her own acrimonious departure from the show, telling Koch, ‘I, after eight years, couldn’t do [the job] any more.’
’21 years [of hosting] I just think is an extraordinary effort.’
Mel Doyle, who was Kochie’s co-host from 2002 to 2013, also re-appeared on the Sunrise set to farewell the 67-year-old.
Samantha Armytage also returned to the Sunrise set for the first time since walking away from the top-rating breakfast show in 2021
Armytage sat on the couch she had owned for several years during her own reign as co-host of the show to farewell the departing host
Mel Doyle, who was Kochie’s co-host from 2002 to 2013, also reappeared on the Sunrise set to farewell the 67-year-old
Kochie will be replaced by new co-host Matt Shirvington, 44, from next week
‘Remember when we bet our boss to take us to lunch if we hit 40,000 viewers?’ she asked Kochie of the show’s humble beginnings, who added that when the show first began the office was just a ‘demountable in a car park’.
Kochie will be replaced by new co-host Matt Shirvington, 44, from next week.
The former Olympic sprinter is understood to have signed an initial $400,000-a-year salary agreement with the network – subject to an increase come ratings time.
A senior TV executive told Daily Mail Australia that this number could soar to $750,000 if the ratings and audience feedback play in his favour.
They said Koch earned more than $1.5million a year for his role on the Channel Seven breakfast show, despite only working four days a week.
On his last morning on the show, the departing host enjoyed a bacon and egg roll and a coffee at the news desk as Barr practised her lines.
‘Thank you for everything. Thank you. Oh dear. Quick, I’ve got to [read] the news,’ Kochie told the crew as he prepared to read the news for the last time.
The host welled up when his grandchildren appeared on-air to pay tribute to their ‘Poppy’ during an emotional farewell segment.
Kochie, 67, walked through a guard of honour comprised of crew members, producers and fellow presenters at the Channel Seven set
The former Olympic sprinter is understood to have signed an initial $400,000-a-year salary agreement with the network – subject to an increase come ratings time.
Kochie stunned his colleagues last Monday when he announced his resignation from the hit breakfast show after 21 years
‘He is always very kind and always gives us advice and tactics for our sport game and the eyespot assemblies. Always supportive and he has taught us to have half glassful perspective,’ they said.
Kochie stunned his colleagues last Monday when he announced his resignation from the hit breakfast show after 21 years.
During his on air announcement, Natalie looked heartbroken when Kochie said he had spent more time with her over the past few years than his own family.
He said he was leaving the hit show to focus on his own businesses and to enjoy more flexible work hours to spend time with his growing family.
Kochie joined Sunrise to present finance reports in 2002 and in October that year became Chris Reason’s replacement when the journalist was diagnosed with cancer.
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